I have had my 300ex for about 7 years now and I have gone through 3 sets of axle bearings, I recently purchased a durablue, after going off a stupiely huge drop off, I bent my axle and cracked a rib, but it was just another flesh wound! Anyway, before I installed the durablue I checked the axle bearings, they were smooth and had no play, so I installed the new axle, I have pooched those ones and installed new ones since then. After a rid today I noticed a small bit of play in the bearing, not side to side, but up and down. I never run my chain to tight or anything like that, I know the axle is wider, but should it do this to the bearings in like 15 rides in a 3 month period. Take note I havn't gotten to much air on these bearings and take it easy on super rough terran, I have gone through 2 water holes, I can't notice anything when I ride, just when I have it on a stand and move in up and down there is a tiny bit of play. I want to wait untill they are really bad, but I am a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to my toys. I am definitaly wondering now about a double rowed carrier! what do you guys think am I just nuts, should I wait till they are super sloppy or till they make noise?

Does anyone elses quad do this?


Thanks a bunch
Eric Winkworth

300ex with too many mods to list

 

Something is not right....It has to do with either alignemt of your carrier, axle, or possibly your axle nut torque.

 

I thought the same thing at first, but it isn't my axle nut it is torque perfect, no side pay at all, it is all up and down, wired isn't it
I don't know mabye I should just rip it apart again!!!

it is like the axle forced the bearing to expand its internal diameter, I don't know how, but mabye it is just the axle being wider than stock? It is munchin the bearings!

Help me out guys!

I am sure someone has noticed this, or had the same problem!

 

i'm working on hopping up the suspension of my girlfriends '02 300ex, and i did happen to notice how the carrier was put together in the rear end, i had the swingarm lengthend and so everything was apart for a while, it looks like there is a steel tube between the bearings of the stock carrier, so my thoughts are that if this tube would be missing then you would give these bearings a thrust load that they were'nt designed for, my theory is that this tube (the axle goes thru it too) gives support for the inner races of the bearings when you preload the stupid axle nut thingy, so like i said, if that tube is'nt in there, you then must have roller bearings which are designed for radial and thrust loads and if not then your just beating the inner races together with the pressure of the axle nut, blah blah blah blah, did you take that tube out or was is never in there for you? and if it's gone and you're using the stock style ball bearings then get one, it's cheaper then new bearings three times a year....lates, josh...

 

I don't see how you could mess up the alignment?
please feel free to teach me

 

I have had to install new axle bearings 3 times in SEVEN years dude!

Yes the tube is in there I bought the bike new in 1998 and I never leave parts out when I rebuild things, it usally isn't the greatest idea!

I don't know, but you guys obviously have no play, what so ever in you carriers then eh?

thanks for the help keep it coming

 

DOH! sorry , brain fart about the bearings 3 times a year thing, ummm different idea, how is the fit of the bearings into the carrier, you know this but they should be a press fit, not a slip fit into the carrier, and that axle tube again, it should be butted up against the inside of the bearings, not just loose behind it, as in the bearings should be pressed in all the way, ( so they butt against the tube and the other bearing), i figure they have plenty of grease too, thats probably not a factor, they'd look overheated as hell if they were dry, mechanically i'd say it was impossible you were exceeding the bearing rpm limit or the load capacity, a bearing that size should be able to handle at least 3- 4000 lbs in a radial load, at probably 3-4000 rpm at least. other then that if the axle is slightly tweaked and the bearing journals are'nt paralell then again the inner races would be stressed? just another idea, lates, josh..

 

Thats the other thing I guess I forgot to mention, when I put it together I did press the bearings into the carriers and did everything as usual, when I was done, no play nice and tight. I rode it probably 4 or 5 rides and checked it she was fine, 10 rides later now I have a little play. And as for the tube and being butted up against the bearings that will be accoplished as soon as you press them in and again when you touque down the axle nut. right?

Like I said I havin't been to nuts on them, ahh I got the night off mabye ill rip er apart re grease, feel the bearings and make sure that tube isn't loose, if the bearings still have play, I guess I will get a double rowed carrier!! because I'm not letting this happen again it is too annoying nothing else on the quad has ever givin me the problem of loosing up!

Thanks again
Eric Winkworth

 

Any more advice guys??

300ex with too many mods to list!

 

Nice this is just a dig.....


Try removing the K&N filter..........

What kind of bearings are you using to replace them???? Are they after market roller bearings or Ball bearings? Are they a sealed unit or do you press them together? When you tighten the axel nuts it may not press the bearings against the tube as it should, this should be nice and tight when you seat the bearings.